Tool: Additional supplies
Suggestions for additional supplies you might consider procuring
Each Supply Kit provides all of the materials needed for activities with the Adolescent Kit. Don’t let this limit you! You can also add any supplies that you can find locally that you think will contribute to activities with adolescents. Bear in mind that the type of supplies you add to the Supply Kit will depend on your resources, what is available locally, and whether you will be conducting activities with adolescents in a relatively fixed space (where you might be able to set up more permanent features such as furniture, cushions, etc.), or will be moving from location to location.
Try to include materials for traditional games and activities from adolescents’ home communities. This can help contribute to a sense of continuity and familiarity.
For example, in South Sudan, games and toys that adolescent girls and boys commonly made and played with in their communities were used in activities with the Adolescent Kit.
Suggestions for additional supplies you might consider procuring include:
- A ground cover such as a tarpaulin, rug, mat, wooden pallet, or sheeting made from plastic, cardboard or rubber – make sure it’s comfortable to sit on!
- Shade netting to protect tented or outdoor spaces from sunlight
- Arts materials such as crayons, chalk, paints, multi-sized and multi-coloured paper, ribbons, shoelaces, socks (for puppets), buttons, string, wool, stickers, modelling clay
- Equipment such as footballs, volleyballs, tennis balls, sponge balls, skipping ropes, and games such as marbles, beanbags, puzzles, blocks, dominoes, balloons, bubbles and any traditional games
- Toys such as dolls, dice, wooden or plastic animals, toy cars
- Musical instruments
- Books, including fiction and nonfiction books appropriate for the reading level and interests of adolescents
- An exercise book (to create an inventory log)
- A poster that lists all of the services and programmes for adolescents in the community (to be posted during sessions)
- A sign that encourages adolescents to wash their hands before and after sessions
- A lightweight pump to inflate balls
- A referee whistle for games and activities
- A stopwatch for games and activities
- A camera to document activities, aid project work and take photos to decorate activity spaces2
- A projector to display facilitation instructions, or share images of adolescents’ work2
- A radio to listen to and discuss music, local news, or other stories2
- A First aid kit – make sure that someone knows how to use it!
- Furniture such as chairs, benches, tables, or cushions. (Remember that in some cultures, adolescents may prefer to sit on the ground, and that furniture may take up some of your space for activities).
- A small activity tent that can be used within the activity space – this can be a way of dividing up the space or dedicating a special place for activities.
These are just suggestions! There are a lot of other items you may want to add to your Supply Kit. Look around at what resources you have in your community and see what adolescent girls and boys are already using as games, toys and other forms of entertainment that you could include with your supplies.
2 Bear in mind that if you include more valuable items with your supplies you will need to find a safe place to store them. Also keep in mind that carrying or having access to valuable supplies may put adolescents at risk of harm.
Highlights
Each Supply Kit provides all of the materials needed for activities with the Adolescent Kit. Don’t let this limit you! You can also add any supplies that you can find locally that you think will contribute to activities with adolescents. Bear in mind that the type of supplies you add to the Supply Kit will depend on your resources, what is available locally, and whether you will be conducting activities with adolescents in a relatively fixed space (where you might be able to set up more permanent features such as furniture, cushions, etc.), or will be moving from location to location.
